Child&#39;s wardrobe



March 23, 1965 F. KERSHAW 3,174,814

CHILD'S WARDROBE Filed June 27, 1962 INVENTOR LEONA/F0 E KERSHAW MN-344w ATTORNEY nited States This invention relates to a childs wardrobe, and more particularly, to a childs wardrobe which is constructed in a manner so that it simulates a doll house.

The childs wardrobe of the present invention simulating a doll house is preferably provided with two storage areas and a plurality of slidable drawers. Components of a house such as windows, doors, etc. are painted on the exterior of the doll house. Portions forming a part of the door or window just described perform an additional function of facilitating reciprocation of the drawers, and hence function as knobs. The simulated doll house is preferably provided with a chimney which also functions as a bank.

The wardrobe of the present invention is preferably constructed of wood. The inner surface of the wardrobe defining the storage areas are preferably cedar lined. A horizontally disposed post or bracket is preferably provided in one of the storage areas so that articles of clothing may be supported therefrom by hangers or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel childs wardrobe.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel childs wardrobe simulating a doll house.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a childs wardrobe which is designed and structurally interrelated in a manner which stimulates the desire of a child to neatly store and replace its clothing in a wardrobe.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a childs wardrobe in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4- 3 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a childs wardrobe designated generally as 10.

As is evident from the illustration in FIGURE 1, the wardrobe simulates a doll house as a result of the general arrangement thereof and the figures painted or otherwise applied to the exterior thereof. Such figures will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The wardrobe 10 includes a back wall 12 extending for the full height thereof, side walls 14 and 16 which do not extend for the full height thereof and a bottom wall 18. The Walls 12, 14 and 16 are supported on four corner legs 20. The wardrobe 1G is provided with a center partition 22 extending from horizontally disposed partitions 21 and 23. The partition 23 lies in a plane corresponding generally to the upper edge of the side walls 14 and 16. A front center strut 24 extends upwardly from the partition 23 in spaced relationship with the rear wall 12 for supporting thatched angularly disposed roof portions 28 and 30.

The upper edge of the roof portions 28 and 30 are interconnected while the lower edge of the roof portions extend beyond their respective side walls. The space beatent "ice neath the roof portions 28 and 30 and above the partition 23 is a triangular storage area 26. Access to the triangular storage area 26 is provided by means of triangular doors 32 and 34 each of which are hingedly connected to the strut 24. Door 32 is provided with a knob 36 to facilitate manipulation of the same and door 34 is provided with a knob 36. The surfaces defining the storage area 26, which includes the roof portions, the doors 32 and 34, the rear Wall 12, and the partition 23, are provided with cedar lining 31. The purpose of the cedar lining is to protect articles of clothing from insects such as moths and the like.

A storage area 38 is provided between the partitions 21 and 23 and between the center partition 22 and the side wall 14. The storage area 38 is also provided with a cedar lining 4b as shown more clearly in FIGURE 3. Access to the storage area 38 is provided by a door 42 hingedly supported from the side wall 14. A horizontally disposed pipe-type support bracket 44 is provided within the storage area 38 between the center partition 22 and the side wall 14. The bracket 44 facilitates supporting articles of clothing within area 38 by means of hangers or the like.

Storage area 38 occupies substantially one-half of the area between partitions 21 and 23. The other half of the area between these partitions is occupied by a plurality of superimposed reciprocally supported drawers 46, 48, and 52. A drawer 54 is reciprocally supported between the bottom wall 13 and the partition 21. It will be noted that the width of drawer 54 is substantially equal to the distance between the side walls 14 and 16.

The roof portions 28 and 38 are provided with shingles so that they appear to be thatched roofs. Hence, roof portion 343 is provided with shingles 55 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. It Will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other materials may be utilized on the roof portions 28 and 30. The simulated doll house is provided with a chimney 56. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, the chimney is hollow and is in line with a hole 58 in the roof portion 30. A panel 60 is reciprocally supported beneath the hole 58 by guides 62 as shown more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 4. The chimney 56 may function as a bank. Coins placed in chimney 56 will lie on the upper surface of the panel so. When it is desired to remove the coins from the chimney, the door 32 must be pivoted to an open disposition. Thereafter, one may place his hand beneath the opening 58 and reciprocate the panel 60 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIGURE 4. Such reciprocation results in discharge of the coins into ones hand.

In order to complete the simulation of a doll house, the wardrobe 10 is provided with a plurality of conventional portions of a house which are painted thereon. Hence, Windows 64 and 66 are painted across drawers 46 and 48. Likewise a window 68 is painted on the door 42. A door 70 is painted across the drawers 50 and 52. Drawer 54 is provided with a sidewalk 72 and a fish pond '73 painted thereon over a green background simulating grass. Lanterns, shrubs, etc. are also painted on various surfaces of the front portion of the wardrobe 10.

A portion of the figures or components of the house which are applied to the front surface of wardrobe 10 perform a utilitarian function. For example, drawer 46 is reciprocated by grasping the window sill 74 on the windows 64 and 66. Likewise, drawer 48 is reciprocated by grasping the window sill 76 on windows 64 and 66. The window sills are projecting portions as shown more clearly in FIGURE 2. The bay window 78 which is painted on the door 42 is provided with an overhead window sill 89 which functions as a knob for manipulating pivotable movement of the door 42. Rims 82 on the flower pots a. on drawer 52 facilitate reciprocation of drawer 52. Drawer 54 is reciprocated by grasping member 84 which simulates the curbing in front of a house.

The wardrobe 10 is light in weight and may be made from conventional material such as plywood and the like. A spring type detent is preferably provided wherever desired to retain the doors 32, 34 and 42 in a closed disposition. It will be appreciated that windows and other components of the house Will be painted on the side Walls 14 and 16 thereby complementing the decor of the front portion of the wardrobe 10.

It is believed that the purpose and function of the various storage areas and drawers are Well known and therefore need not be described in detail. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the size of the wardrobe 10 may vary. An operative embodiment of the present invention has been constructed with the distance from the floor or other supporting surface to the peak of the roof being approximately six feet. A Wardrobe of this size has been found to be very practical for use by children over a substantial age bracket. However, the size and dimensions of the wardrobe 10 may be varied as desired.

The present invent-ion may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a Wardrobe simulating a house, said wardrobe having a plurality of reciprocal drawers disposed one above the other, a first storage area alongside said drawers, means providing access to said first storage area, a second storage area above said drawers and said first storage area topped by angularly disposed roof portions joined at an apex, a pivotably mounted door means on said wardrobe for providing access to said second storage area, a simulated chimney extending from one roof portion, said chimney being hollow, a hole in said one roof portion below said chimney, and means slidable along said one roof portion for selectively blocking and unblocking discharge from said chimney through said hole.

2. Apparatus comprising a Wardrobe simulating a house, said wardrobe having a plurality of reciprocal drawers disposed one above the other, a first storage area alongside said drawers, means providing access to said first storage area, a second storage area above said drawers and said first storage area topped by angularly disposed roof portions joined at an apex, pivotably mounted door means on said Wardrobe for providing access to said second storage area, a vertical strutextending from the lowermost drawer on said plurality of drawers to the apex defining the jointure of the angularly related roof portions for providing a partition between said drawers and first storage area and support for said roof portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 389,178 9/88 Ungemach 462 X 492,877 3/93 Shulin 312-204 1,975,779 10/34 Church 312-296 X 2,094,740 10/37 Green 31231 X 2,470,993 5/49 Kramer 312-204 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner, 

2. APPARATUS COMPRISING A WARDROBE SIMULATING A HOUSE, SAID WARDROBE HAVING A PLURALITY OF RECIPROCAL DRAWERS DISPOSED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, A FIRST STORAGE AREA ALONGSIDE SAID DRAWERS, MEANS PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID FIRST STORAGE AREA, A SECOND STORAGE AREA ABOVE SAID DRAWERS AND SAID FIRST STORAGE AREA TOPPED BY ANGULARLY DISPOSED ROOF PORTIONS JOINED AT AN APEX, PIVOTABLY MOUNTED DOOR MEANS ON SAID WARDROBE FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID SECOND STORAGE AREA, A VERTICAL STRUT EXTENDING FROM THE LOWERMOST DRAWER ON SAID PLURALITY OF DRAWERS TO THE APEX DEFINING THE JOINTURE OF THE ANGULAR RELATED ROOF PORTIONS FOR PROVIDING A PARTITION BETWEEN SAID DRAWERS AND FIRST STORAGE AREA AND SUPPORT FOR SAID ROOF PORTIONS. 